Shaun Wane has named a 19-player England squad for the first Ashes Test against Australia at Wembley on Saturday, with Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis in the mix
Shaun Wane has trimmed his England squad to 19 players in preparation for the opening Ashes Test against reigning world champions Australia at Wembley, hinting at his starting half-back duo.
Hull KR treble victor Mikey Lewis is included alongside England skipper George Williams, while Wigan Warriors’ leader Harry Smith is absent from the initial squad.
Harry Newman, Joe Burgess, Morgan Smithies and Kallum Watkins have also been dropped from the first match day team, with sell-out Tests looming in Liverpool and Leeds on 1 November and 8 November respectively.
John Bateman, one of five NRL-based players in the 19 along with AJ Brimson, Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth and Kai Pearce-Paul, is the most experienced member of the squad with 26 caps to his name.
Tom Johnstone and Dom Young appear poised to be the starting wingers, whilst hookers Jez Litten and Daryl Clark have also been selected, reports All Out Rugby League.
Shaun Wane confirms 19-player squad.
John Bateman, AJ Brimson, Daryl Clark, Herbie Farnworth, Ethan Havard, Tom Johnstone, Morgan Knowles, Matty Lees, Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten, Mike McMeeken, Mikolaj Oledzki, Kai Pearce-Paul, Owen Trout, Alex Walmsley, Jake Wardle, Jack Welsby, George Williams, Dom Young.
Regarding his squad, head coach Wane expressed: “I’m delighted to name our 19 for the opening Ashes Test against Australia this Saturday at Wembley.
“We have a fantastic squad and whittling it down for the first Ashes Test match in 22 years wasn’t easy, but I am confident the players selected can challenge the Kangaroos this weekend.
“We’ve had two fantastic weeks in camp preparing and we are now in touching distance of what will be an historic fixture under the Wembley arch.”
A new Player of the Series award has also been unveiled for the first rugby league Ashes series in 22 years, agreed by the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and the Rugby Football League (RFL).
The Fulton-Reilly Award will be presented to the standout player across the three-Test series, honouring two of the most influential figures in Ashes history: Bob Fulton AM and Malcolm Reilly OBE.